105

More welcome touch his understanding's eye
Than all the blandishments of sound his ear,
Than all of taste his tongue. Nor ever yet
The melting rainbow's vernal-tinctured hues
To me have shone so pleasing, as when first
The hand of science pointed out the path
In which the sun-beams gleaming from the west
Fall on the watery cloud, whose darksome veil
Involves the orient; and that trickling shower
Piercing through every crystalline convex
Of clustering dew drops to their flight opposed,
Recoil at length where concave all behind
The internal surface of each glassy orb
Repels their forward passage into air;

110

That thence direct they seek the radiant goal 115
From which their course began; and, as they strike
In different lines the gazer's obvious eye,
Assume a different lustre, through the breed
Of colours changing from the splendid rose
To the pale violet's dejected hue.

120

When spotless youth with solitude resigns
To sweet philosophy the studious day,
What time pale autumn shades the silent eve, 196
Musing I roved. Of good and evil much,

And much of mortal man my thought revolved;
When starting full on fancy's gushing eye
The mournful image of Parthenia's fate,

That hour, O long beloved and long deplored! 195*
When blooming youth, nor gentlest wisdom's arts,
Nor Hymen's honours gather'd for thy brow,
Nor all thy lover's, all thy father's tears
Avail'd to snatch thee from the cruel grave;.
Thy agonizing looks, thy last farewell
Struck to the inmost feeling of my soul

200

As with the hand of death. At once the shade
More horrid nodded o'er me, and the winds
With hoarser murmuring shook the branches. Dark
As midnight storms, the scene of human things 205
Appear'd before me; deserts, burning sands,
Where the parch'd adder dies; the frozen south,
And desolation blasting all the west
With rapine and with murder: tyrant power
Here sits enthroned with blood; the baleful charms
Of superstition there infect the skies,

211

125

Or shall we touch that kind access of joy,
That springs to each fair object, while we trace
Through all its fabric, wisdom's artful aim
Disposing every part, and gaining still
By means proportion'd her benignant end?
Speak, ye, the pure delight, whose favour'd steps
The lamp of science through the jealous maze
Of nature guides, when haply you reveal
Her secret honours whether in the sky,

The beauteous laws of light, the central powers 130
That wheel the pensile planets round the year
Whether in wonders of the rolling deep,
Or the rich fruits of all-sustaining earth,
Or fine-adjusted springs of life and sense,
Ye scan the counsels of their author's hand.

135

220

225

230

Thus I impatient; when, at once effused, A flashing torrent of celestial day Burst thro' the shadowy void. With slow descent A purple cloud came floating through the sky, And poised at length within the circling trees, Hung obvious to my view; till opening wide Its lucid orb, a more than human form Emerging lean'd majestic o'er my head, And instant thunder shook the conscious grove. Then melted into air the liquid cloud, And all the shining vision stood reveal'd. A wreath of palm his ample forehead bound, And o'er his shoulder, mantling to his knee, Flow'd the transparent robe, around his waist Collected with a radiant zone of gold Ethereal: there in mystic signs engraved, I read his office high and sacred name, Genius of human kind. Appall'd I gazed The god-like presence; for athwart his brow Displeasure, temper'd with a mild concern, Look'd down reluctant on me, and his words Like distant thunders broke the murmuring air.

235

240

Opinion's feeble covering, and the veil
Spun from the cobweb fashion of the times
To hide the feeling heart? Then nature speaks
Her genuine language, and the words of men, 150
Big with the very motion of their souls,
Declare with what accumulated force,
The impetuous nerve of passion urges on
The native weight and energy of things.

Vain are thy thoughts, O child of mortal birth And impotent thy tongue. Is thy short span Capacious of this universal frame? Thy wisdom all-sufficient? Thou, alas! Dost thou aspire to judge between the Lord Of nature and his works? to lift thy voice Against the sovran order he decreed, All good and lovely? to blaspheme the bandis Of tenderness innate and social love, Holiest of things? by which the general orb Of being, as by adamantine links, Was drawn to perfect union, and sustain'd From everlasting? Hast thou felt the Of softening sorrow, of indignant zeal So grievous to the soul, as thence to wish The ties of nature broken from thy frame; That so thy selfish, unrelenting heart Might cease to mourn its lot, no longer then The wretched heir of evils not his own? O fair benevolence of generous minds! O man by nature form'd for all mankind!

244

176

From morn to eve have stolen unmark'd away,
While mute attention hung upon his lips,
As thus the sage his awful tale began.

185

'Twas in the windings of an ancient wood,

265

He spoke; abash'd and silent I remain'd, As conscious of my tongue's offence, and awed Before his presence, though my secret soul Disdain'd the imputation. On the ground I fix'd my eyes; till from his airy couch He stoop'd sublime, and touching with his hand My dazzling forehead, Raise thy sight, he cried, And le: thy sense convince thy erring tongue. 270

I look'd, and lo! the former scene was changed; For verdant alleys and surrounding trees, A solitary prospect, wide and wild, Rush'd on my senses. "Twas a horrid pile

Wash'd from the naked roots of oak and pine
The crumbling soil; and still at every fall
Down the steep windings of the channell'd rock,
Remurmuring rush'd the congregated floods
With hoarser inundation; till at last
They reach'd a grassy plain, which from the skirts
Of that high desert spread her verdant lap,
And drank the gushing moisture, where confined
In one smooth current, o'er the lilied vale
Clearer than glass it flow'd. Autumnal spoils
Luxuriant spreading to the rays of morn,

285

291

295

Blush'd o'er the cliffs, whose half-encircling mound
As in a sylvan theatre enclosed
That flowery level. On the river's brink
I spied a fair pavilion, which diffused
Its floating umbrage 'mid the silver shade
Of osiers. Now the western sun revealed
Between two parting cliffs his golden orb,
And pour'd across the shadow of the hills,
On rocks and floods, a yellow stream of light
That cheer'd the solemn scene. My listening
powers

Were awed, and every thought in silence hung, 300
And wondering expectation. Then the voice
Of that celestial power, the mystic show
Declaring, thus my deep attention call'd.

305

310

Inhabitant of earth, to whom is given The gracious ways of Providence to learn, Receive my sayings with a steadfast earKnow then, the sovran spirit of the world, Though, self-collected from eternal time, Within his own deep essence he beheld The bounds of true felicity complete; Yet by immense benignity inclined To spread around him that primæval joy Which fill'd himself, he raised his plastic arm, And sounded through the hollow depth of space The strong, creative mandate. Straight arose 315 These heavenly orbs, the glad abodes of life Effusive kindled by his breath divine Through endless forms of being. From him its portion of the vital flame,

Each inhaled

325

In measure such, that, from the wide complex 320
Of co-existent orders one might rise,
One order, all-involving and entire.
He too beholding in the sacred light
Of his essential reason, all the shapes
Of swift contingence, all successive ties
Of action propagated through the sum
Of possible existence, he at once,
Down the long series of eventful time,
So fix'd the dates of being, so disposed,
To every living soul of every kind'

I look'd, and on the flowery turf there stood Between two radiant forms a smiling youth Whose tender cheeks display'd the vernal flower Of beauty; sweetest innocence illumed His bashful eyes, and on his polish'd brow Sate young simplicity. With fond regard He view'd the associates, as their steps they moved; The younger chief his ardent eyes detain'd, With mild regret invoking her return. Bright as the star of evening she appear'd Amid the dusky scene. Eternal youth

406

415

O'er all her form its glowing honours breathed, 410
And smiles eternal from her candid eyes
Flow'd, like the dewy lustre of the morn
Effusive trembling on the placid waves.
The spring of heaven had shed its blushing spoils
To bind her sable tresses: full diffused
Her yellow mantle floated in the breeze;
And in her hand the waved a living branch
Rich with immortal fruits, of power to calm
The wrathful heart, and from the brightening eyes,
To chase the cloud of sadness. More sublime 420
The heavenly partner moved. The prime of age
Composed her steps. The presence of a God,
High on the circle of her brow enthroned,
From each majestic motion darted awe,
Devoted awe! till, cherish'd by her looks

330

The field of motion and the hour of rest,
That all conspired to his supreme design,
To universal good: with full accord
Answering the mighty model he had chosen,
The best and fairest of unnumber'd worlds

425

335

That lay from everlasting in the store of his divine conceptions. Nor content, ny one exertion of creative power His goodness to reveal; through every age, Through every moment up the tract of time His parent-hand with ever-new increase Of happiness and virtue has adorn'd

430

340

The vast harmonious frame: his parent-hand, From the mute shell-fish gasping on the shore, To men, to angels, to celestial minds

345

Arcund her honour'd head. A matron's robe
White as the sunshine streams thro' vernal clouds,
Her stately form invested. Hand in hand
The immortal pair forsook the enamell'd green,
Ascending slowly. Rays of limpid light
Gleam'd round their path; celestial sounds were

435

For ever leads the generations on

heard,

To higher scenes of being; while supplied From day to day with his enlivening breath, Inferior orders in succession rise

350

To fill the void below. As flame ascends,
As bodies to their proper centre move,
As the poised ocean to the attractive moon
Obedient swells, and every headlong stream
Devolves its winding waters to the main;
So all things which have life aspire to God,
The sun of being, boundless, unimpair'd,
Centre of souls! Nor does the faithful voice
Of nature cease to prompt their eager steps
Aright: nor is the care of heaven withheld
From granting to the task proportion'd aid;
That in their stations all may persevere
To climb the ascent of being, and approach
For ever nearer to the life divine.

And through the fragrant air ethereal dews
Distill'd around them; till at once the clouds
Disparting wide in midway sky, withdrew
Their airy veil, and left a bright expanse
Of empyrean flame, where spent and drown'd,
Afflicted vision plunged in vain to scan
What object it involved. My feeble eyes
Endured not. Bending down to earth I stood,
With dumb attention. Soon a female voice,
As watery murmurs sweet, or warbling shades,
With sacred invocation thus began.

411)

445

Of man, thy offspring; from the tender seeds Of justice and of wisdom, to evolve

The latent honours of his generous frame;
Till thy conducting hand shall raise his lot
From earth's dim scene to these ethereal walks,
The temple of thy glory. But not me,
Not my directing voice he oft requires,
Or hears delighted: this enchanting maid,
The associate thou hast given me, her alone
He loves, O Father! absent, her he craves;
And but for her glad presence ever join'd,
Rejoices not in mine: that all my hopes
This thy benignant purpose to fulfil,
I deem uncertain: and my daily cares
Unfruitful all and vain, unless by thee
Still farther aided in the work divine.

455

460

465

[tongue.

Folds with a mother's arms the fainting boy,
Till life rekindles in his rosy cheek;
Then grasps his hands, and cheers him with her

O wake thee, rouse thy spirit! Shall the spite
Of yon tormentor thus appal thy heart,
While I, thy friend and guardian, am at hand
To rescue and to heal? O let thy soul
Remember, what the will of heaven ordains
Is ever good for all; and if for all,
Then good for thee. Nor only by the warmth
And soothing sunshine of delightful things,
Do minds grow up and flourish.

546

550

Oft misled

By that bland light, the young, unpractised views

Of reason wander through a fatal road, Far from their native aim: as if to lie

555

She ceased; a voice more awful thus replied. O thou! in whom for ever I delight, Fairer than all the inhabitants of heaven, Best image of thy author! far from thee Be disappointment, or distaste, or blame; Who soon or late shalt every work fulfil, And no resistance find. If man refuse To hearken to thy dictates; or, allured By meaner joys, to any other power Transfer the honours due to thee alone; That joy which he pursues he ne'er shall taste, That power in whom delighteth ne'er behold. Go then, once more, and happy be thy toil: Go then! but let not this thy smiling friend

470

Inglorious in the fragrant shade, and wait The soft access of ever-circling joys,

Were all the end of being. Ask thyself, This pleasing error did it never lull

560

475

480

Here ceased that awful voice, and soon I felt
The cloudy curtain of refreshing eve
Was closed once more, from that immortal fire 505
Sheltering my eyelids. Looking up, I view'd
A vast gigantic spectre striding on

Thro' murmuring thunders and a waste of clouds,
With dreadful action. Black as night his brow
Relentless frowns involved. His savage limbs 510
With sharp impatience violent he writhed,
As through convulsive anguish; and his hand,
Arm'd with a scorpion-lash, full oft he raised
In madness to his bosom; while his eyes
Rain'd bitter tears, and bellowing loud he shook
The void with horror. Silent by his side
The virgin came. No discomposure stirr'd
Her features. From the glooms which hung around,
No stain of darkness mingled with the beam
Of her divine effulgence. Now they stoop
Upon the river bank; and now to hail
Tis wonted guests, with eager steps advanced
The unsuspecting inmate of the shade.

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531

As when a famish'd wolf, that all night long Haa ranged the Alpine snows, by chance at morn Sees from a cliff incumbent o'er the smoke Of some lone village, a neglected kid That strays along the wild for herb or spring; Down from the winding ridge he sweeps amain, And thinks he tears him: so with tenfold rage, The monster sprung remorseless on his prey. Amazed the stripling stood: with panting breast Feeble he pour'd the lamentable wail Of helpless consternation, struck at once, And rooted to the ground. The queen beheld His terror, and with looks of tenderest care Advanced to save him. Soon the tyrant felt Her awful power. His keen, tempestuous arm Hung nerveless, nor descended where his rage Had aim'd the deadly blow: then dumb retired With sullen rancour. Lo! the sovran maid

535

541

As late thy eyes beheld: for thou hast changed
My nature; thy commanding voice has waked
My languid powers to bear me boldly on,
Where'er the will divine my path ordains
Through toil or peril: only do not thou
Forsake me; O be thou for ever near,
That I may listen to thy sacred voice,
And guide by thy decrees my constant feet.
But say, for ever are my eyes bereft ?
Say, shall the fair Euphrosyne not once
Appear again to charm me! Thou, in heaven!
O thou eternal arbiter of things!
Be thy great bidding done: for who am I,
To question thy appointment? Let the frowns
Of this avenger every morn o'ercast

The cheerful dawn, and every evening damp
With double night my dwelling; I will learn
To hail them both, and unrepining bear

Thy wishes? Has thy constant heart refused
The silken fetters of delicious ease?
Or when divine Euphrosyne appear'd
Within this dwelling, did not thy desires
Hang far below the measure of thy fate,
Which I reveal'd before thee? and thy eyes,
Impatient of my counsels, turn away
To drink the soft effusion of her smiles?
Know then, for this the everlasting sire
Deprives thee of her presence, and instead,
O wise and still benevolent! ordains
This horrid visage hither to pursue
My steps; that so thy nature may discern
Its real good, and what alone can save
Thy feeble spirit in this hour of ill
From folly and despair. O yet beloved!
Let not this headlong terror quite o'erwhelm
Thy scatter'd powers; nor fatal deem the rage
Of this tormentor, nor his proud assault,
While I am here to vindicate thy toil,
Above the generous question of thy arm.
Brave by thy fears and in thy weakness strong,
This hour he triumphs: but confront his might
And dare him to the combat, then with ease
Disarm'd and quell'd, his fierceness he resigns 585
To bondage and to scorn: while thus inured
By watchful danger, by unceasing toil,
The immortal mind, superior to his fate,
Amid the outrage of external things,
Firm as the solid base of this great world,
Rests on his own foundations. Blow, ye winds!
Ye waves! ye thunders! roll your tempests on;
Shake, ye old pillars of the marble sky!
Till all its orbs and all its worlds of fire
Be loosen'd from their seats; yet still serene,
The unconquer'd mind looks down upon the wreck;
And ever stronger as the storms advance,
Firm through the closing ruin holds his way,
Where nature calls him to the destined goal.